Results tagged “Riverhawks” from Hawk Talk - Christian

For the past few days, I have been thinking about my final HawkTalk post for UMass Lowell. Many questions, such as "What should I say?" and "How should I say it?" filled my head. With these questions, other thoughts and flashbacks floated in my mind. I thought about the main purpose of this blog, and my purpose in life. I thought about my four tremendous years at UMass Lowell and my future. I thought about my family, my friends, my colleagues, my baseball players, and others who I have interacted with. I thought about the world we live in - all the good and all the bad. All of this floated in my head like a crib's hanging mobile. I'm like the infant lying there, still new to the world around me, looking over the bright objects floating above my head; all I had to do is grab one thing. So, what should I write about? What should I grab from this mobile that continues to spin around in a rhythmic matter?

Last night I looked at my mirror and saw a different person. Who is that person? Who was he four years ago? Was he a person who was just fresh out of high school? A naive young man who wanted a girlfriend, has a lot of friends, and just hangs out a lot? A person who wants a job and make a lot of money? A person who doesn't know what to do with his life? A person with no purpose? I can tell you this: he was all of that before and now he is someone else. This person I see in the mirror wants to make a difference in the world, someone who wants to change people's lives for the better, a person who can make goals and aim higher to achieve them. This person has a set of skills with a vast and vivid knowledge that continues to grow, a gentleman-type of professionalism, and a drive to live that cannot be destroyed. This person has a caring and loving heart that is bigger than he knows and a personality that will build bridges, not walls. This person has a purpose in life. Humbly, this person is me, Christian.

And who should I thank for helping me become a better person and a worthy "top-of-the-line" contributor to society? I have to thank the University of Massachusetts Lowell, my alma mater. I have to thank my professors, their teacher aides, the deans, the Chancellor and the administration, the rest of the staff, my blog supervisor, and my blog co-workers. Most of all, I have to thank my friends and my classmates, who stuck by me through the thick and thin. Everyone here at the UMass Lowell has taught me many things from the topics set within my major to essential lessons about life. They have taught me that knowledge does not end at the last page of the textbook; everything around you is a "teachable moment" and a life-worthy learning experience. With these lessons, I took on UMass Lowell's challenge. They challenged me to be the best that I can be. They challenged me to work hard to reach my goals, and to fight in what I believe in. They challenged me to make a change and to make a difference in the world that we live in. I can be I am proud to say that I took on the challenge and succeeded; now I'm an UMass Lowell alumnus.

So can you take on the challenge? Can you change the person that you are now? Can you make positive changes? Can you make a difference? If you are up for the challenge, UMass Lowell is your answer to overcome that challenge "plus ultra." You "Gotta Be Here," plain and simple. This is where dreams are made and met, and where life truly begins. I can honestly tell you that I am happy with my decision to go to UMass Lowell four years ago. It was one of the best decisions in my life and I hope it is yours too.

Now I leave you all with this quote:"We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make." - Ted Kennedy (1962-2009)

See you later and thank you,Christian T.UML Exercise Physiology Class of 2009

Driving to and from UMass Lowell was a major part of my college life. I drove from Malden, MA to Lowell, MA everyday for all of my four years at UML. The drive from my hometown to the university was a good 40 - 50 minutes, depending on the times that I'm driving (ie. driving 8am vs. 1pm), traffic, and the routes I took. Planning out my drive was very important for me as a commuter student. I wanted to avoid night driving, hitting traffic, getting caught up with construction crews on Route 3, and so on. I also wanted to get home right away so I have enough time to study, do papers, and other school-related stuff.

All commuters were like this, especially those who live 20+ miles away from UMass Lowell. Because of our strict planning to get out of Lowell to beat rush hour and our limited time in UML, we all felt that we weren't part of the UML Community. I bet a lot of commuters felt like this. The problem with commuters is our lack of discovery, involvement, and spirit. I first realized this when I got involved with Alpha Lambda Delta in my sophomore year. To make the most of the college experience, I felt that I have to get involved with what was offered, from sporting events, joining clubs, getting involved with an organization, helping out a professor, or even just plain hanging out in the university with residents and other commuters. My friends and I have realized that if we get involved in some kind of way, we would finally feel like we're part of the community. Last year, I started going to hockey games... and now I wish I started watching them when I was a freshmen! The Riverhawks are an excellent Division 1 hockey team. Their games are super exciting and... hey, they're nasty!! (And when I say "nasty" that means THE TEAM IS WICKED GOOD). Also, I started to get involved with Omicron Delta Kappa. One event I helped out in was "Trick or Treating for the Troops." That was a blast! Plus, I get to dress up as a handsome and adventurous Indiana Jones (hehe). I started to get involved with what was offered and I finally felt like home.

I regret not spending more time at UMass Lowell. I wish I was more involved with the community and the organizations I was part of. I wish I was at more sporting events so I can support our Riverhawk teams. I finally felt like I was part of UML community at the end of senior year... do not make the same mistake of being a late bloomer.

Get involved as soon as possible!!Trust me, those 4 years will fly by faster than you can blink...

Christian Tiongson UML Alumni, EP '09

_____________________________________________________________Feel free to comment my blog! If you leave questions, I will answer them!

It was May 13, 2009, and the time was 4:45pm. Our professor wished us good luck and congratulations. I looked around the lecture hall as my classmates were leaving. I said to myself, "Wow, this is my last lecture class as an undergrad." I looked at my friend, signaled him, and we left the hall. The first thing my friend said was, "Dude!!! We're done!!! I can't believe we're done!" Trust me, I can't believe it either. My friend and I walked towards that massive mass of pavement we call the "Big Lot." During that typically 5-minute walk, we went through our massive filing cabinet in our brains and reminisce on the good and bad times at UMass-Lowell. When I say our memory cabinet is massive, it is MASSIVE. Even when we reached our cars, we still 1/1000 of it to go. So we leaned against our cars and stood there as the sun went down, talking. I think we stood there for a good hour before the chilly air finally reminded us that it was time for us to leave UML one last time before graduation (and a final for me).

Like what I said for my last blog, it's just weird to not come back. Sure, I'm coming back as a part-time student to get a graduate certificate in nutritional science, but coming back as a full-time naive, not-ready-for-the-world undergrad? That's history. We're not coming back as undergrads. We're already called alumni. It's just weird, weird, weird, and weird.

I can tell you that I don't regret going to college. College was a major chapter in my life when I finally grew up to be a better person, academically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and so on. Physically... eh, I need to work on that (Ha ha). Going to college was the best choice I ever made in my whole entire life. I feel like I am ready to take on the work world and go to graduate school down the line.

And who should I thank? UMass-Lowell off course. UMass-Lowell is the school to go to if you want to make a difference in the world. Everyone here is awesome and extremely supportive beyond belief. You can't get anything better out there. Financially, the tuition here is affordable compared to big-time schools. Come on, who would turn down affordable tuition with phenomenal education? And sports? All the sports here are extraordinary. Come on, Division I Hockey East Riverhawks? It's true that the university is young and lacking in traditions, but that is where you, the perspective and current student, comes in. You have the ability to make a change for the better. UML will give you the best education out there, and you should give the best of you. I did and now I'm graduating.

It's your turn to make a difference and to create life-long memories for your cabinets in your brain. It's worth a shot. You won't be disappointed.

But only a select group of people can say they bleed red and blue. Those people are the Riverhawks.

Who are the Riverhawks? You can say that it's all those who play a sport at University of Massachusetts - Lowell. That is correct, but that's only a small portion of the family. It's those who work hard in classes, strive to be the best of the best, teach others the knowledge of their field, keep our campus safe, serve others with a golden heart, and those who continue to hold the torch of UML after graduation. It's everyone in the UMass-Lowell community - the administration, faculty and staff, current students, alumni, sponsors... and you, the perspective student. We all support each other like a family, even if we don't know each other that well... or heck, even know each other at all. We simply are a rare breed of people.

Do you want to be a Riverhawk? Do you want to bleed red and blue? You can be part of the family by coming to tonight's Hockey East Final Championship game at the TD BankNorth Garden in Boston, MA. The UMass-Lowell Riverhawks will be playing their second Hockey East Championship ever versus the #1 Boston University Terriers. You may say it's going to be a hard obstacle to clear, but nothing is impossible for the Riverhawks. Last night, my friend Abbey and I watched a game that no one will ever forget. The Riverhawks played against the tough Northeastern Huskies. Before last night's game, the Riverhawks were 0-3 against them with only 4 or 5 goals. That was a statistic that was anchored in the minds of everyone in the Garden... But that was a weak statistic. After being down 2-0, the Riverhawks scored 2 unanswered goals, which one was scored in the final few seconds of the game, UML held it strong and brought it to overtime. Within 3 minutes of OT, UML scored the game winner.

I seriously can't explain the atmosphere, the thrill, the anxiety that was going through the hearts and minds of everyone in that arena. Maybe you should come down and experience it yourself - 7pm at the Garden.

What are you waiting for?!? Jump on the MBTA and head into Boston now!!!!

www.uml.edu / facebook.com

GO RIVERHAWKS!!!!!!!!!

- Christian

________________________________________________________________Oh yeah, I'm hoping I will be able to blog after the game to tell you what happened... GO RIVERHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!